Hi Lynne, I'm fairly new on the list, but I am a PWP, 48/37/35,and I go to Phila. for my neurology visits. I have been on Permax for at least 10 1/2 yrs. & it has never been a problem for me. I was advised to take it along with my Sinemet 25/100. They started me on .25 (I think - long time ago) and then increased it to .50 and then l mg. I have been taking 6 or 7 a day every three hours WITH my Sinemet. I had DBS a year ago which has taken away tons of pain from dystonia & if I don't get stressed out now my "on" time has really improved. I tried different drugs and less of them after my surgery, but what I was taking before surgery is working well. I have been feeling much, much better emotionally and physically because of my New Year's resolution (to lose weight). I eat fish or chicken every day, lots of water, veggies, & fruit - try not to eat snacks at all. I tried Mirapex, but I couldn't see any difference. The Permax works well (so if it ain't broken, don't fix it). I have never had any type of hallucinations with any of my drugs. I might add that Permax is the most expensive. Thank the Lord for insurance.....about $ 4.50 per pill......in PA (USA) Good luck. Paula ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynne" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 2:07 PM Subject: Help About Agonists? > Hello, > > I'm trying to learn about agonists for my mother, Virginia. I'd > appreciate any advice about whether any particular agonist might help > her. In the last couple months, she's had more discomfort between doses. > She is 81 years old, diagnosed with PD about 17 years ago. She also has > peripheral neuropathy, and from this she has been been bedridden for two > years. She doesn't see a neurologist regularly because getting anywhere > is harrowing. We did have a phone consultation with a PD specialist last > year, but the experience was not helpful. (And I got an impression that > the neuro was not as knowledgeable as people on this list. I've > subscribed here off and on for some time). > > For what it's worth, two years ago my mother had in-person evaluations and > batteries of tests with another neurologist and other physicians with the > outcome that she was overloaded with Sinemet to the point of being "out of > it" and in great physical discomfort for several months. The neurologist > in charge then had no clue. > > Relief came only after I posted information about her and asked some > questions on this list, where people explained that she was probably > getting too much Sinemet. Anyway, we reduced the Sinemet strength and > reworked her schedule based on observation plus information from this > list. Once the new Sinemet dosage and schedule was established, her > comfort improved tremendously and her mind cleared. (She still has mild > hallucinations but she knows are not real, but of course they are > annoying. A low dose of Zyprexa at midnight has stopped nightmares, and > adding a low dose during the day is under consideration to reduce day time > hallucinations.) > > I would be grateful for any pointers and advice about the use of agonists. > > In the last couple months, she's been feeling more physical discomfort > between doses. This includes painful muscle contractions, extreme > slowness of movement, and high anxiety. (By the way, she does not have > involuntary movements.) She says she is stiff, "but that doesn't bother > me as much as the other stuff." She does not eat for 60 minutes before > Sinemet and for 30 minutes after. Her schedule is: > > 7:00 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100 plus one-half Sinemet 25/100. > 7:30 AM One Dilantin 100 mg. > 10:00 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100. > 1:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. > 4:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100 plus one-half Sinemet 25/100. > 5:00 PM One Nortriptyline 10 mg (anti-depressant. Soon to go to 25 mg). > 7:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. > 10:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. > 12:00 AM One Zyprexa 2.5 mg (prevents nightmares) > 12:30 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100. > > Many thanks. > > Lynne > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn